SAN FRANCISCO -- When the shaking starts, drop to the floor, take cover under sturdy furniture and take a selfie. As millions of Californians practiced earthquake survival in a statewide drill on Thursday, they documented every (mis)step on Twitter.
The annual Great California Shakeout improves earthquake safety by having schools, businesses and homes practice earthquake drills. August's Napa quake brought preparedness back into the public eye, and may account for the record number of 10 million participants this year.
At 10:16 a.m. PT, participants practiced the Drop, Cover and Hold On technique. That is, when you feel shaking, drop to your hands and knees, cover yourself by crawling under sturdy furniture and hold on until the shaking has passed. In most buildings you're safest staying inside until the earthquake subsides.
Not included in those steps? Take A Selfie. Welcome to earthquake drills in 2014.
Employees at NASA, Twitter, and The Tech Museum captured themselves curled up under their workspaces. For high school students, the survival protocol wasn't so simple: They documented their peers wedging themselves under tiny desks, discovering their writing surfaces' nasty undersides, or down their Minecraft game to pass the time.
In officeland, the desks were big enough to shelter adults.
Earthquake drill at @twoffice. Drop, cover and hold on! pic.twitter.com/LqranAuJFC— Marko Gargenta (@markog) October 16, 2014
Earthquake drill @twitter twoffice @bkepseu @kikoltdcom lol, #california pic.twitter.com/8XATaaXOwz— Jennifer Fraser (@jenniferfraser) October 16, 2014
On conf call during #GreatShakeOut earthquake drill @NASAJPL. We're evacuating bldgs now. pic.twitter.com/YLpOUK0YVm— Susan Bell (@susanbellfilm) October 16, 2014
Perfect form for #thegreatshakeout! Drop, Cover, and Hold On! pic.twitter.com/RZYq2KgUtX— The Tech (@TheTechMuseum) October 16, 2014
But in schools, these teenagers are just too big to fit under their desks.
When your too big during the earthquake drill pic.twitter.com/HQ5IuDSszi— Hannah williams (@hannahhannahh12) October 16, 2014
too big for this damn earthquake drill pic.twitter.com/4m7tcR4ooI— zoëbada$$ (@yunggraz) October 16, 2014
Hiding under benches during the earthquake drill pic.twitter.com/09CThBreeL— Captain Morgan (@Morganlynn0111) October 16, 2014
Others just rejected the "cover" part of the drill.
WE HAD A EARTHQUAKE DRILL AND THIS BOY ISNT SITTING UNDER THE TABLE, He gON DIE SO QUICK pic.twitter.com/cjvw7tEk4d— tiff !! (@GEORGlNASHAIG) October 16, 2014
When there's an earthquake drill and you have no time to react pic.twitter.com/SHpx3gHNOp— Kyledish Gambino (@Kylrthecreator) October 16, 2014
He literally took off his shoes for the earthquake drill cause he didn't want to crease his shoes pic.twitter.com/TNvnSpUOe4— SIM TO THE RANN (@liamsexypubes) October 16, 2014
This earthquake drill is messing up my hair foo pic.twitter.com/c5T5IHGKM6— J. (@DearJanett) October 16, 2014
Maybe that's because they'd heard about the unsanitary horrors lurking under their school desks.
Brb throwing up during earthquake drill pic.twitter.com/bme9PvGLcI— Kurah (@KiraGiacomaro) October 16, 2014
GUM UNDERNEATH THE DESK DURING THE EARTHQUAKE DRILL. pic.twitter.com/hENe5hjFkC— § (@stefano_akb) October 16, 2014
earthquake drill got me like pic.twitter.com/U95f284dOf— Genesis (@liljennyy_) October 16, 2014
While doing a earthquake drill.. pic.twitter.com/o8dEmjQnUW— Flower (@fayetopia) October 16, 2014
Earthquake drill had me like pic.twitter.com/OcH64s71Ih— DASJA (@dasja_h) October 16, 2014
Cards, texting and Minecraft occupied the students as they waited for the all-clear.
When the earthquake drill disrupts ur mine craft pic.twitter.com/YTgE6Aawih— ѕcaяlet (@ScarletAhmad_) October 16, 2014
when u are tryna battle Yugioh cards cus there is an earthquake drill pic.twitter.com/U7QWBIxxJf— robert (@nuwyurk) October 16, 2014
Only Matt would. Lol earthquake and fire drill pic.twitter.com/kGxKZ3BluA— Paige Boo (@bigbratpaige) October 16, 2014
Timera said she ain't worried about no earthquake drill, she gotta text her boothang back @TiMeraaaaaa pic.twitter.com/G2QucTvTAS— Emm (@EmilyRomanstine) October 16, 2014
Them munchies in earthquake drill❤️ pic.twitter.com/88wmcRIX9a— Adrian (5-1) (@_MtzAdrian) October 16, 2014
A couple of kids worked on their flexibility.
Doin this earthquake drill in style pic.twitter.com/HMpJBSL8lf— Cass Schwarzfischer (@cass_schwarzz) October 16, 2014
Highlight of my day was this kid doing the splits during the earthquake drill pic.twitter.com/Aztt78WDzT— Gab$ (@gabkattt) October 16, 2014
But mostly, they took selfies. Lots of selfies.
when you all about the earthquake drill pic.twitter.com/NA9s52FJyk— Coco (@Glencoco01) October 16, 2014
earthquake drill priorities pic.twitter.com/yyIx0TE2K2— PATRICIÁ (@aristopatti) October 16, 2014
.@storminoff Earthquake drill selfie pic.twitter.com/PEbbHOaByf— Oh Whale (@IvanV35) October 16, 2014
the earthquake drill pic.twitter.com/Q21cd9c9zo— nands☯ (@heyimnandi) October 16, 2014
earthquake drill lmao pic.twitter.com/VoqvU8UIXh— Rocky Jo Kinsman (@RockyJoKinsman) October 16, 2014
At home earthquake drill, happy earthquake day guys pic.twitter.com/bUa6ZfMuXd— Shad Moss (@kamkeezus) October 16, 2014
earthquake drill pic.twitter.com/l7xgGMRFyx— Kelly (@kam_jamb16) October 16, 2014
earthquake drill swag pic.twitter.com/Yaqc8GfuhG— S I A (@richdad97) October 16, 2014
earthquake drill con la guerita pic.twitter.com/LK186dJK6Z— $ammie (@yungputa_) October 16, 2014
My teacher said to take a selfie & put #GreatAmericanShakeout so pic.twitter.com/izhAsBtwUC— Jane (@amberuncangco) October 16, 2014
We Take Selfies When there is a Earthquake Drill #anabell pic.twitter.com/OG9sUO8Kj3— (@Ohh_Dana) October 16, 2014